Charminar Man Scammed ₹27 Lakh in Fake Online Investment Scheme
Share this article:
A 40-year-old resident of Charminar has lost nearly ₹27 lakh to an online investment scam that began with what seemed like a harmless part-time job offer.
On July 6, the victim was approached via Telegram with a proposal for “product optimisation” work that promised commissions. Initially, small payments were credited to his account, helping the scammers gain his trust, Hyderabad cybercrime officials said.
Soon after, the fraudsters introduced an “auction lot investment scheme,” convincing him to make bigger deposits with assurances of lucrative bonuses once certain tasks were completed. The man was added to a Telegram group with 55 members, where fake payment proofs were displayed to create an impression of legitimacy.
Over time, the victim was repeatedly pressured to invest more, with the threat of losing previous deposits. In desperation, some transfers were made through bank accounts of his family and friends, who were unaware of the fraud and believed they were helping him.
When the truth became clear, the victim approached the cybercrime helpline 1930 and lodged a complaint.
Police have issued a warning about similar Telegram-based scams, where small initial profits are used to lure victims into bigger investments. Authorities advise the public to stay cautious, verify any job or investment opportunity, avoid transferring money to unknown individuals or websites, and never share personal banking details with strangers.
On July 6, the victim was approached via Telegram with a proposal for “product optimisation” work that promised commissions. Initially, small payments were credited to his account, helping the scammers gain his trust, Hyderabad cybercrime officials said.
Soon after, the fraudsters introduced an “auction lot investment scheme,” convincing him to make bigger deposits with assurances of lucrative bonuses once certain tasks were completed. The man was added to a Telegram group with 55 members, where fake payment proofs were displayed to create an impression of legitimacy.
Over time, the victim was repeatedly pressured to invest more, with the threat of losing previous deposits. In desperation, some transfers were made through bank accounts of his family and friends, who were unaware of the fraud and believed they were helping him.
When the truth became clear, the victim approached the cybercrime helpline 1930 and lodged a complaint.
Police have issued a warning about similar Telegram-based scams, where small initial profits are used to lure victims into bigger investments. Authorities advise the public to stay cautious, verify any job or investment opportunity, avoid transferring money to unknown individuals or websites, and never share personal banking details with strangers.
Next Story